Heritage Crafts

Processes, materials, people and current state of the Xuan Brush, Ink-wash decorative brick and wooden-press oil.

3 crafts From brush to oil22 processes All by hand10 interviews，261 min video Workers & inheritors21 Photos Full process footage

Xuan Brush

The Xuan brush is one of China's four famous brushes, produced in Jing County, Anhui. It takes its name from the fact that the area belonged to Xuanzhou in ancient times. It originated in the Qin Dynasty and flourished in the Tang and Song dynasties, and its making craft was added to the national intangible cultural heritage list in 2008.

6Process steps 5Interviews 85Video length (min)

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Ink-wash decorative brick

A type of fired brick unique to the Maolin area of Jing County in southern Anhui. Craftsmen layer "oily yellow earth" and "cold-water earth" in proportion, then repeatedly tread and knead them into a thick, sticky clay. After firing, the differently colored layers naturally form ink-wash-like veining—flowing like clouds and water, no two pieces alike. It is mostly used on the gateways and walls of traditional buildings, and its making craft is provincial-level intangible cultural heritage in Anhui Province.

10Process steps 7Interviews 172Video length (min)

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Wooden-press oil

A provincial-level intangible cultural heritage of Anhui, it refers to the ancient oil-pressing craft handed down in southern Anhui. Using purely physical low-temperature pressing and more than ten entirely manual steps—selecting the seeds, roasting them, steaming the meal, ramming the press, and so on—it preserves the oil's original flavor and character to the greatest extent.

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